Conflict diamonds may be entering the U.S.: GAO

[deadparrot]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - "Conflict diamonds" sold illegally to finance civil wars, may be making their way into the United States, despite an international pact to end trade in the gemstones, the Government Accountability Office said on Wednesday.

The United States, the world's largest consumer market for diamond jewelry, does not inspect rough diamond imports to certify their origins, a GAO report said. It added that because of spotty statistics on diamond imports and exports, the country is "still vulnerable to illicit trade of rough diamonds."

Over the last decade, sales of diamonds have bankrolled violent factions in countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola. These unpolished and uncut stones became known as "conflict diamonds."

"Although many of these conflicts have now ended and the international community has taken steps to gain control of the rough diamond trade, the United Nations and other sources report that illicit trading of rough diamonds still exists and could potentially finance civil conflicts as well as criminal and terrorist activities," said the GAO.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060927/ts_nm/minerals_diamonds_conflict_dc

[pitohui]

1. duh you think?

don't buy diamonds people, it's pretty simple

i try to stick to gemstones i am certain are of american (north or south) origin

but i suspect if you avoid diamonds and tanzanite you avoid contributing to most of the problem

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. Diamonds are overpriced hunks of coal

There are lot's of other gem stones that are much prettier.

[LostinVA]

6. And, diamonds aren't even rare

DeBoers just "makes" them that way.

Prettier stones, rarer stones, and stones that aren't saturated in blood and death.

[sandybeach]

2. They showcased these on "CSI-NY" tonight

Gave me the creeps. This might help the cubic zirc market.

[acmavm]

4. 'Conflict' diamonds? How tidy. They used to be called blood diamonds.

[Javaman]

7. Well, by the time they get here the blood has been completely scrubbed

off. To many people were mistaking them for bleeding rubies...

new speak.

:sarcasm:

[0007]

5. Pat will soon be running the world!

Thank you God for letting me have that diamond mine..